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Amid the unprecedented federal government shutdown approaches day 38, US airspace will become a little less busy. The same cannot be said for US airports.

Precautionary Steps Put in Place

The current administration's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) announced flights are being reduced to uphold air traffic control safety during the federal government funding lapse, now the longest recorded and with no sign of a agreement between GOP lawmakers and liberal officials to end the federal budget impasse.

Airline regulators selected “congested corridors” where the FAA says air traffic requires reduction by 4% by early morning Eastern Time on Friday, a step requiring airlines to call off thousands of journeys and cause a series of scheduling problems and setbacks at some of the nation’s largest airports.

Administration Remarks

The administration's transportation head, Sean Duffy, commented on X Thursday that the move was “not politically driven” but rather “involving evaluation the data and reducing building risk in the system as controllers continue working without pay”.

“Air travel remains secure today, tomorrow, and the day after because of the forward-thinking steps we are taking,” Duffy stated.

Travel Disruptions

Experts predict hundreds or even thousands of flights may be scrapped. These reductions might account for as many as 1,800 flights and over 268,000 seats total, based on an projection by the aviation analytics firm Cirium.

Affected Airports

The involved terminals spanning more than two dozen states include the highest-volume locations across the US – such as Georgia's capital, Charlotte, DEN, Texas metroplex, Florida destination, LAX, Miami and Bay Area airport. Within major metropolitan areas – like New York, Houston and Illinois hub – multiple airports will be affected.

Each of the three air terminals serving the nation's capital region – Dulles Airport, Baltimore/Washington international and Ronald Reagan Washington national – will be involved, inevitably causing delays and cancellations for government officials as well as the flying public.

Other Developments

• This is the compilation of American air terminals decreasing flights on Friday due to federal government shutdown.
• A former Department of Justice employee who hurled a sandwich at a federal officer during Donald Trump’s law enforcement surge in DC was found not guilty of assault by a DC jury on Thursday marking another legal rejection of the federal action.
• Certain Democratic lawmakers viewed Tuesday’s significant election victories as indication they should maintain their position and secure the best deal from GOP members before agreeing to end the lengthiest federal closure in history.
• Liberal lawmakers commended Nancy Pelosi as a “bold, groundbreaking” member of the US House of Representatives, an “legend” and the “finest presiding officer in American history”, following her declaration that post twenty congressional sessions in Congress she will leave office.
• Kevin Roberts, the director of the political research group behind the conservative initiative, has apologized for backing the commentator's interview with Hitler admirer Nick Fuentes, but is resisting calls to step down.